Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy used the word "burden" in respect of the contribution we will need to make to the EU. It is the case that we will need to make a higher level of payment but this is in the context that Ireland has only recently become a net contributor. For decades, we were a net beneficiary but that has changed, and we now pay in more than we receive. As we look at how we will frame our negotiations, it is critical that we reaffirm how important it is to be in the Single Market. The fact that our income has grown, in itself, means we will have to make a greater contribution.

The Deputy asked about the status of the likely change to the CAP. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, is involved in a great deal of work on the matter, in a coalition of like-minded agriculture ministers, to ensure we can progress our priorities for the scale of the CAP and how it will develop. We want to find ways of ensuring that the CAP will continue to be environmentally sustainable while meeting the needs of Irish farmers and agriculture.

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